Not sure where this should be, so I'm posting here.

I have Win98se and FAT32, so I'm subject to the 4GB file size limit.

I'm capturing old home video using DV cam for burning to DVD. I can capture in VV3, it splits the caps into 4GB files that I can import into the timeline for editing. Of course I can get a lot more than 4 GB on the timeline. . . . Then, I encode straight out of VV3 using the built-in encoder. I will burn to DVD using DVD WS, importing the encoded mpg and setting chapter points. I plan to set the bitrate when I encode so that I am as close to 8000 CBR equiv (or 8000 average 8000 max VBR, naturally if I have more than an hour to get on the average would drop, i.e., 4000 avg 8000 max for 2 hours worth), but because of the 4GB limit, I have to keep my final mpg below 4GB. (I don't have to worry about overhead for menus, etc, because of the 4.3 GB on the DVD blank)

My question is, when I'm doing the bitrate calculation using the various bitrate calculators out there, what should my targe file size be? 4 GB on the nose, 3.9 to be safe, or because of the way "GB" is determined can I specify a final size over 4, like 4.3. I want to squeeze the max quality out of what I encode.

Hope this has been clear.

Thanks for all help.

Alan